T-5 conversion ?

[hades]

OK I know that there is some good info on this site about the T-5 and I searched but alot of it is old.

Here are my questions.
1. For the guys that have swapped in a T-5, How has it been holding up?

2. Can I use the bellhousing from my 70 Gt? If so are there mods to it?

3. I would like to use an S-10/15, How good is the location for the shifter inside (is it far off from the stock shifter location)?

Thanks for any input in advance

[opelnut10]

The T-5 is a stronger transmission than the Opel 4 speed I have one in my GT and it is about 160hp. No you cannot use your bellhousing without making an adaptor as the bolt pattern is different. The stick comes out in the right spot if you use the S-10 version and you will have to buy an after-market shifter(mine is a B&M). You need to use the S-10 clutch which requires you to machine down the flywheel step flat and lay off the S-10 bolt pattern and drill and tap new mounting holes. The bell housing to use,if you can find one, is a GAS Chevette 5 speed or Pontiac T1000. The bolt holes and dowel pin holes fit the Opel block. Due to the differance in the block height you do have to thread the two top holes in the bellhousing and fabricate two Z brackets to pick up the top bolt holes on the Opel block, modify the transmisson mount cross member (re-drill it) to take the S-10 transmission mount and you will need to make a new driveshaft, using an automatic transmission front yoke. Not a small task,but doable, or you can spent $1000 for the pieces and put in the Gertrag 240 and someone else has done the work for you, and you still have to address the clutch.

[davegt27]

I used a T-5 from an S-15 with a "Manta Part" adapter plate ($110 at the time)

It used the stock Opel clutch

The slider thing has to be removed from the Opel bell housing

The T-5 slider has to be shortened with a hack saw (forget how much, it was a long time ago)

The shifter comes out very close to stock maybe an inch off

I just took off the top portion of the s-15 shifter and used the slick curved bottom section

Put a Nardi shift knob on the end for some bling bling

Rear Trans mount I used from an Astro van--I think-- I just asked the GM dealer if I could go in the back and pick out a Trans mount

I moved the Trans cross member to the rear location

Like was said use the auto drive shaft

Very very short drive shaft (I think it was $40 to get the drive shaft done)

The spring was left out of the drive shaft with no problems

Custom Speedo cable was made

Never did get the Speedo gears corrected

Clutch adjustment was hard with the adapter plate since the adjusting bolt then became to short but no big deal (if I had left the lock nut off and used loctite it probably would have been ok)

A slight low pedal but worked great

The T-5 is a heavy sucker maybe 70lbs (I forget)

I used Amsoil synthetic ATF in my T-5

Worked great for years

Well that's what I remember hopefully opelnut10 and my post can help you out

Oh there are two different gear sets for the S-10/S-15 T-5 so it helps to get the one that’s more like a car

Most trucks drive like cars anyways so it may not be a big deal with either gear set

here is mine
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/50...warner_T-5.jpg

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/50...07S-15_T-5.jpg

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/data/50...vy_S15_T-5.jpg

HTH
Davegt27

[hades]

Thanks fellas that was alot of help. It looks like the only thing that would be a big problem for me would be getting or making the adaptor. The drive shaft wouldn't be a big deal I know some people that do those and finding T-5 trannys around here is no problem same with the drive shaft.
The rest I can do myself.
Thanks alot
Travers

[garrymc]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 The bell housing to use,if you can find one, is a GAS Chevette 5 speed or Pontiac T1000.

I have not been able to find a Chevette or T1000 with a 5 speed. Most are 4 speed or automatics. How rare are the 5 speeds ?

Garry

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by garrymc I have not been able to find a Chevette or T1000 with a 5 speed. Most are 4 speed or automatics. How rare are the 5 speeds ? Garry

Pretty rare. I think it was used in the later years only, 1982-1985 or so.

[opelnut10]

Garry, those car were not available on the west coast with the 5 speed so you are kinda in the wrong part of the country to find one. They are rare because the 5 speed was an optional transmission in the Chevette and the people that bought those cars thought that if they were going to pay for a optional transmission they would get an automatic (which is the same TH180 that is in the Opel). I had to buy a transmission with a bellhousing in order to get one. I got lucky and found someone that wanted the tyransmission so I got part of my money back.

[T-6 driver]

I guess this is a dumb question, but the bell housing from the 4 speed is diffrent from the bellhousing of the 5 speed? There should be some compatability right?

[opelnut10]

The 4 speed transmission has a different bolt pattern than the 5 speed. The only compatibility is the bellhousings will both bolt up to the back of the block on the Chevette and the Opel. I guess you could use a Chevette 4 speed transmission but it would be a lot of work just to have one and they are not any heavyer duty than the Opel.

[asdasc]

Does anyone know how the gear ratios compare?

A nice tight 1-2-3 with an overdrive 4th would be nice!

[davegt27]

just found this
i got mine out of an S-15 but they don't list it
the dealer is who told me there was two gear sets

http://www.inliners.org/Jack/t5_page.html



davegt27

[asdasc]

Hey! I just noticed on that website that you could get a 1984 S10 with a 1.9L Isuzu moter! Is that the same as our 1.9?

[opelwasp]

No, not even close. Isuzu are japaese. The Isuzu Rodeo is virtually identical to the Opel Frontera but it doesn't have the Opel 2.4L in it it has a Isuzu moter in it. Why manufacturers do this? You got me.

[opelnut10]

Opelwasp, its called world car concept. GM owns controling interest in Opel, Saturn, Isuzu. They should call it world confussion because that it what it does. First was the Chevette-Pontiac T1000 (Opel Kadette City) with a brazilian drivetrain or if you wanted a diesel in it (really a wierd duck) Isuzu drivetrain. Now the new Opel GT/Pontiac/Saturn with engine selection limited to country of origin to meet EPA specs. for safety, mileage and emissions. Along the way Pontiac 2000 and Chevrolet Citation (Opel J body) and last but not least Cadillac Catera (Opel) are you confussed yet